Congressmen Peter King and Jack Kingston join to discuss Democrats' hateful rhetoric following the deadly ICE shooting of a woman in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis

Former Congressmen Jack Kingston and Peter King appeared on Newsmax to discuss recent protests in Iran and the United States. They highlighted the scale of unrest in Iran, suggesting the regime is weakened by economic hardship and international sanctions, and urged Congress to support the president's stance on Iran.

The discussion then shifted to the U.S., where the congressmen criticized local officials in Portland and other cities for calling for a halt to ICE operations after a federal agent-involved shooting. They defended ICE's actions as lawful and condemned local leaders for what they described as enabling unrest and undermining federal law enforcement.

Democrats use hateful rhetoric after ICE shooting

I want to bring in former Georgia Congressman Jack Kingston and former New York Congressman Peter King. Gentlemen, let's just tackle Iran, because there's plenty to talk about. Some of the images that we are managing to get out of Iran overnight seem to indicate this appears what could be the beginning of a regime collapse. Jack, you know, you heard the president. He promised protection for protesters. What would that look like? What could that look like? Zach Andrews is reporting that the Ayatollah came out with a very dark warning that we came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands, sounding like he'd do it again. You know, I think that what that did was send a very strong signal to the protesters that they do have some cover in case this gets further along, and it is getting further along. As you may know, before the blackout, and as your correspondent said, it's very, very hard to get information, but we know that there have been over 340 protests, 2,200 people have been arrested, 38 that we know of have been killed, probably a lot more than that. All 31 provinces have had protests. So it's not just like in one area. They have been faced with 40 percent inflation. It's very difficult right now to get meat and rice and the basics that all families need at the kitchen table. So I don't think this is going to go away. I think it's going to get worse, and that the Ayatollah has said, we're going to keep everybody in their place. What does that mean? I think we're at the cusp of a revolution here that is going to probably move forward. And the United States' role in it, this is where Congress, in my opinion, needs to be focusing far more than what's going on with Venezuela and Maduro. Indeed. It would be quite a pivotal turn in this country, and it would be for the entire Middle East in terms of a domino effect. Peter, let's bring you in on this. What would the president—the president has said he would protect these protesters. Sounds like, by Zach Gander's reporting, that there's going to be a significant number of casualties as we get better reporting out of that country today. What does Congress need to do to back the president? Should they be backing the president, and does it need to head to Congress? Well, first of all, Congress should and almost has to back the president on this. One thing, and I'm sure Jack will agree, in my days in Congress, we knew that if there's one country in that region of the world where the majority of the people on the ground were pro-American—not just anti-regime, but pro-American—it was Iran. Back in 2009, when President Obama first came in, there was a chance then for him to act, and he didn't. And now I think the opportunity is there again, and I think the fact that President Trump had attacked nuclear facilities last summer showed the people that the United States is on their side. The regime is weakening. We have a very effective now CIA under John Ratcliffe, and our intelligence agencies are working on real issues to protect America, not just DEI issues. So we saw what happened in Venezuela with the large help of the CIA. I think we can see that again. So I'm not in a position to say what exactly should be done, but I feel more confident now than ever, probably since the fall of the Shah, that the United States is in a position to bring about a change of the regime—I'm using that term—a regime change in Iran. And this is one case where you have an educated workforce, you have businesses, you have people in that country who are strongly pro-American. So I just hope that the president—I know the president will do what he has to do, but it's important that Congress not try to block him or get in the way or impede what I think is really a historic moment. Yeah. And I don't want to leave this story yet. Before I move on, Jack, to you on this, you heard in Zach Anders' reporting that the Ayatollah had a message—State Run TV, of course, is up and running—and the Ayatollah had a message for the president, challenging him directly, calling for his downfall. That has not done well or worked well for other dictators and tyrants worldwide. What do you expect out of the administration today? I think that they're going to look at that kind of rhetoric the same way they looked at Maduro, that he says all kinds of things but doesn't have the strength to back it up. As you know, Bush called Iran part of the axis of evil. Now it's the axis of resistance. But their allies—Hamas, Hezbollah, Venezuela—they're all fallen. They don't have the energy that they used to have. They don't have the source for oil. The U.N. has put sanctions on them because of their nuclear pursuits. The world has crashed around Iran's regime. And so I think their best bet is going to be, let's cut a deal, turn over the power, and have an international peace force to come in here and maybe save our lives. Yeah. When you're offering $7 a month for these protesters to stay home, it kind of tells you the state of the economy in that country and how very close we are to regime change. All right. I want to pivot back to stateside here. Protests out of Portland overnight after that shooting involving federal agents. U.S. Border Patrol says an officer opened fire. A driver tried to run over agents in this case. The suspected—or two of the suspected members, they believe at least one of them may have had ties to Trinidad and Tobago. Listen to the mayor of Portland. This is just hours after the shooting happened. We know what the federal government says happened here. There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time is long past. That is why we are calling on ICE to halt all operations in Portland until a full and independent investigation can take place. So he wants federal officers out of that city, even though they were targeting members of an alleged criminal organization. Peter, to you on this. You know, this is absolutely shameful and disgusting. When people talk about an insurrection, this is an insurrection led by, unfortunately, not just by mobs in the street, but by elected official mayors, whether it's Minneapolis or whether it's Portland or around the country. Here in New York, Governor Hoeple is telling ICE to stay out. It's absolutely disgraceful. The fact is, ICE is carrying out its lawful operations. Whether you agree with them or not, they are carrying out lawful operations, and it is to me almost treasonous to have local officials in any way impeding what they try to do by encouraging and enabling the mobs and the rioters on the streets. This is disgrace. I'm proud that in this county where I am, police actually has a working agreement with ICE to work with them on matters such as this. What I see here is absolutely disgraceful. And the way they're going after the ICE agent in Minneapolis for carrying out his lawful activities, this to me could be a real turning point in our country. We have to stand with ICE. We have to stand with federal law enforcement. Gentlemen, I'd like to continue the conversation. I'm out of time, though. For New York Congressman Peter King, Georgia Congressman Jack Kingston, thanks so much for being with us.

Iran's army is threatening to join the crackdown on protesters as demonstrations against the regime grow and the death toll mounts. Huge crowds have taken to the streets across the Islamic Republic. Iran's Revolutionary Guard calls them "terrorists." Haley Ott has more details.

Tehran

Iran's army threatens to join crackdown against protesters

President Trump said, "We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not," earlier this week. But Greenland, a territory of Denmark and a NATO ally, is rejecting the threats.

Nuuk

Greenland rejects Trump's threats

Trump, who often cites national security interests as the reason for taking Greenland, said that if the US does not do something, 'Russia or China will take over Greenland'.

Trump says U.S will act on Greenland, 'whether they like it or not'

Protests across the U.S., including in Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Miami, are taking place following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Police declared the demonstrations in downtown Minneapolis an 'unlawful assembly'.

Philadelphia

Protests spread across the U.S. over ICE shooting of woman

Internet and phone lines in Iran have been cut off as anti-government protests enter their second week. Reports say at least 65 people have been killed and more than 2,300 others detained. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of a possible U.S. response to the government crackdown.

Internet blackout in Iran enters second day as protests intensify

Rescue workers are trying to find dozens of people trapped under a collapsed landfill in the Philippines. At least four people have been confirmed dead. The incident took place on Thursday, with more than 100 workers on site at the time.

Cebu City

Philippines: Dozens still missing in landfill collapse

BRICS nations have launched joint naval exercises off the South African coast. Supporters say the drills will strengthen co-operation among emerging economies.  But critics warn they could deepen global divisions.

Simon's Town

South Africa hosts Russia, Iran and China for military exercise

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned on Saturday that safeguarding security was a "red line" and the military vowed to protect public property, as the clerical establishment stepped up efforts to quell the most widespread protests in years.

Iran authorities signal intensified crackdown as unrest grows

Luigi Mangione was back in court on Friday, where his lawyers worked to block the Justice Department from seeking the death penalty in his federal trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione pleaded not guilty in April 2025.

New York

Luigi Mangione's lawyers fight to block death penalty

Fire crews battle spreading blazes while communities face evacuations and power cuts.

Victoria

Thousands of firefighters deployed to fight bushfires in Australia

The protest comes amid wider rallies against US immigration enforcement and over the fatal shooting of the 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.

Several arrested in Minneapolis during anti-ICE protest

Trump says U.S. will act on Greenland, 'whether they like it or not'

U.S. President Donald Trump began a meeting to discuss Venezuela with executives from some of the world's largest oil companies at the White House, saying he wants them to invest $100 billion in the country to vastly expand its production.

Washington

Venezuela Strikes

Trump urges U.S. oil giants to repair Venezuela's energy industry

The U.S. seized another oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the Caribbean, U.S. Southern Command confirmed on Friday (January 9). The seizure of the vessel comes as President Donald Trump prepares to meet with oil company executives at the White House.

U.S. seizes fifth tanker linked to Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump is reiterating his threats against Iran's regime if violence and deaths continue during protests. CBS News' Imtiaz Tyab has more.

Trump: U.S. to hit Iran 'very hard' if violence continues at protests

Russia fired a powerful hypersonic missile overnight at a target in Ukraine near the border with NATO-member Poland, in what Kyiv's European allies described as an attempt to intimidate them from supporting Ukraine.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia fires hypersonic missile at Ukraine target near NATO border

A majority of European Union countries have agreed to sign a trade deal with the South American trading bloc, Mercosur. It'll be the EU's biggest free-trade pact and comes after decades of negotiations.

Brussels

EU approves Mercosur trade deal despite protests

The Trump administration is pulling the U.S. out of dozens of international organizations, including key UN agencies and the treaty underpinning global climate talks, marking a deepening retreat from multilateral cooperation.

Trump admin. withdraws from dozens of international organizations

The brother of Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, and head of the country’s national assembly has announced the release of a wide raft of political prisoners. It's being viewed as a gesture to seek peace less than a week after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces.

Cúcuta

Venezuela releases political prisoners

Residents in Portland, Oregon, protested Thursday after officials say two people were shot by Border Patrol agents. Gwen Baumgardner has more on how the shooting unfolded.

Portland

Two shot by border patrol agents in Portland

Russia launched a massive attack in Ukraine using drones and missiles, including a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile. Michael Bociurkiw, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, joins CBS News with more.

Odesa

Russia strikes Ukraine with hypersonic missile

Four crew members aboard the International Space Station will be brought home more than a month early in the coming days as NASA cuts its mission short due to health concerns.

NASA cutting current International Space Station mission short

Iran's supreme leader has condemned anti-government protests, denouncing demonstrators as vandals and saboteurs. Iran has shut down the internet and cut off international calls and is promising decisive punishment.

Iran's Supreme Leader defiant as protests grow

The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare rebuke of the Republican leader.

U.S. Senate advances measure curbing Trump's Venezuela war powers

U.S. officials have discussed sending lump sum payments to Greenlanders as part of a bid to convince them to secede from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

Trump administration mulls paying Greenlanders to join U.S.

Iran’s connectivity drops sharply nationwide – As authorities tighten controls amid growing protests over the economy. NetBlocks says the apparent blackout follows ‘a series of escalating digital censorship measures targeting protests’.

Iran experiencing nationwide internet blackout as protests intensify

The Senate on Thursday voted to advance a resolution that could limit President Trump's ability to continue military action in Venezuela without congressional approval. It comes as the president told the New York Times that he could see the U.S. having direct oversight of Venezuela for years.

Caracas

Trump says U.S. could have direct oversight in Venezuela for years

The crew at the International Space Station will return home early because of what NASA is calling a medical concern with a crew member. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood has more details.

Texas

ISS crew returning due to medical issue for first time in NASA history

President Trump plans to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro after Mr. Trump issued threats following the U.S. operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro. CBS News' Lilia Luciano reports from Bogotá.

Trump to meet Colombia’s Petro after tensions over Venezuela operation

The United Kingdom aided the U.S. in an operation to seize a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

Breakdown